Hale Aina Awards are Honolulu Magazine's annual dining awards. The Hale Aina Awards are voted on by magazine readers and subscribers and published annually in the January issue of Honolulu.
The Hale Aina Awards are announced in November through a gala celebration where restaurant owners and chefs find out for the first time what award and at what level they have won.
Categories range from Best Restaurant by Island (Oahu, Kauai, Maui and Big Island) and Little Restaurant You Love to Best Hawaiian Cuisine and Most Romantic Restaurant.
History The Hale Aina Awards were created in 1984 by Honolulu Magazine. It was the first Hawaii dining award given by a local media company. Prior to that the only dining awards were given by mainland travel publications.
"Hale Aina" is the closest equivalent to the word "restaurant" in the Hawaiian language. It literally means "eating place" and is now mostly synonymous with these awards.
Restaurant of the Year Restaurant of the Year is the highest honor bestowed each year to one Hawaii restaurant. Alan Wong's Restaurant holds the most Hale Aina Award Restaurant of the Year wins.
Past winners 1985 - The Third Floor 1986 - Michel's at the Colony Surf 1987 - Michel's at the Colony Surf 1988 - Matteo's 1989 - Michel's at the Colony Surf 1990 - Bali by the Sea 1991 - Golden Dragon 1992 - Maile Restaurant 1993 - Maile Restaurant 1994 - 3660 On the Rise 1995 - Roy's 1996 - Alan Wong's 1997 - Alan Wong's 1998 - Hoku's 1999 - Alan Wong's 2000 - Alan Wong's 2001 - Alan Wong's 2002 - Roy's 2003 - Hoku's 2004 - Roy's 2005 - Alan Wong's 2006 - Alan Wong's 2007 - Alan Wong's 2008 - Alan Wong's 2009 - Alan Wong's 2010 - Roy's 2011 - Roy's
External links Official website Dining writer John Heckathorn's recap of the first 25 years of the awards. Hale Aina Ohana website